Jan. 2, 2026, 6:19 p.m. ET
The Sacramento Kings hit the road and travel to the desert to play the Phoenix Suns at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on Friday, Jan. 2 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Phoenix enters the game having won four of its previous five games, while Sacramento is coming off a fourth-quarter collapse against the Boston Celtics resulting in a 120-106 loss Thursday night.
The last time these teams played each other, Phoenix was afforded the advantage during an NBA Cup group stage game as the Kings lost 112-100 on Nov. 26.
During that game, a viral moment emerged when a Kings season-ticket holder and fan got into a verbal dispute with Kings guard Zach LaVine, allegedly over the team’s performance in the game.
It was the precursor to what would unfold over the course of the season; the Kings, 5-14 after that game, have won three games since and are among the worst teams in the league at 8-26, 14th in the West.
The Suns (19-14) are sitting with the seventh-best record in the West, 1.5 games ahead of the Golden State Warriors and 9.5 games behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Friday’s matchup between the Kings and Suns:
How to watch Kings vs. Suns: TV channel, live stream
- Start time: 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
- Location: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix)
- TV Channel: NBC Sports California; Arizona’s Family Sports; NBA League Pass
- Live stream: NBA League Pass; Fubo
Kings injury report
Players still out for the Kings are guard Zach LaVine (left ankle sprain) and center Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear).
Kings head coach Doug Christie did not have an update on LaVine as of Jan. 1.
Two-way players Dylan Cardwell, Daeqwon Plowden and Isaiah Stevens are assigned to the G-League affiliate Stockton Kings.
Kings keys to victory
- Don’t feed into Dillon Brooks’ antics: Suns guard Dillon Brooks has made a name for himself as an NBA “villain.” He antagonizes opponents with various antics and mental gymnastics, along with his scoring at 21.4 points per game. Whatever the Kings do, don’t allow Brooks to get in your head and off your game.
- Honor Collin Gillespie’s shooting: Collin Gillespie is in his third year out of Villanova but the 6-foot-1 guard is proving that he can shoot the lights out, especially when he gets the hot hand. He averages 14 points per game and shoots 44% from deep. He has made five 3-pointers in each of the previous three games.
- Get physical with Mark Williams: Mark Williams has been a gem for Phoenix; it’s needed a center who can rebound, defend the rim and cause havoc in the paint. Williams averages 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, but he is someone who likes to play physical and Sacramento will need to match that energy for a chance to win.
- Focus for 48 minutes: Obviously, Devin Booker is someone for the Kings to key on defensively, but none of that matters if Sacramento doesn’t stay locked in and knock down shots for the full duration of the game. In their last game, the Kings remained neck-and-neck with the Celtics before a fourth-quarter dismantling. The Kings give themselves a better chance to win when they’re competing at a high level all game, and not having spurts of letdowns.
Suns vs. Kings odds
Odds according to BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.
- Spread: Suns by 13.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 226.5 (O/U -110)
- Moneyline: Suns -750
Kings next five games
- Jan. 4 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
- Jan. 6 vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Jan. 9 at Golden State Warriors
- Jan. 11 vs. Houston Rockets
- Jan. 12 vs. Los Angeles Lakers